Never say never is a term we all use when we are caught doing something we said we’d never
do. Well, I got caught twice this month!
Never say never #1 is the fact that there is a black car sitting on my driveway. I am KNOWN
for saying I’d never own a black car….but there it is, gleaming in the sunlight and soaking up
the heat from the sun to temperatures that would cook a Christmas goose. Other than the heat,
black cars show the most dirt and dust – so I prefer white cars (because I’m lazy).
Never say never #2 was my stubborn dislike to be TOLD I should have an electric car in
California. I was determined NOT to have one just for the pure reason that I thought it was
ridiculous to own an electric car in a place where electricity is very expensive and sometimes
restricted in use during the hottest summer months.
So yes, makes sense that I am now a proud owner of a black EV……right??!!! I was perfectly
happy with my white 2007 Pontiac but it wouldn’t pass the smog test – we tried everything –
mechanics wouldn’t work on it, so we were forced to replace it. We were lucky to find a 2017
(old by EV standards – but it had a new battery) Chevrolet Bolt in a price range we could barely
afford
There she sits, in the driveway next to Kirby2 (the van): A politically correct vehicle next to a
non-politically correct vehicle – yin and yang – order and anarchy – cooperation and defiance.
Our neighbors can’t quite figure us out and I can’t quite figure us out either.
The only thing that made this possible is also in the picture. If you look up, you will see (new)
solar panels on our roof and these are what will make it all work. The van will be used for long
distances and the car will be used for city driving. We are making lemonade out of lemons
here, not solving any world issues.
Husband Jim and son Matthew are very optimistic about the economic advantage we will have
with solar panels and an electric car. They are not as optimistic about dragging the dinosaur
(me) out of the tar pits of the past.
I have a long way to go before feeling comfortable with the changes. What do you think? Do
any of you have a good or bad experience with solar panels? What about an EV? Let me
know in the comments below:
I was laughing while reading this! We have some of the same “I’ll never” items! Hopefully I can be stronger than you 😆
Hi Cindy!!! Glad you got a laugh! It’s 2 against one this time….but next time I might win! A covered carport or garage might come in handy this August/September! Maybe next time I’ll get a “cool” car like yours (yours is cool in more ways than one).
Hi Cindy!!! Glad you got a laugh! It’s 2 against one this time….but next time I might win! A covered carport or garage might come in handy this August/September! Maybe next time I’ll get a “cool” car like yours (yours is cool in more ways than one).
Please come live in NC. Mountains and sea and not as many rules to follow.
Hoping you and Jim get our way soon.
It’s so beautiful in North Carolina! We hope to get hired to do a show there asap!
We moved from California to N. C. 4 years and miss seeing your show. If you all come N.C. you will have a pair of tickets sold as soon as you announce the show …Good luck with the raising gas and electricity cost in California
Hello Charles! Thank you, we need all the luck we can get! And if we get an offer from a venue in North Carolina, we will come out for sure!!
I know they’ve probably gotten the new Solar Panels Improved in the last 30 years, but we had the worst experience one could ever have had with the things back in ’88 after a move from Paradise to Bullhead City, AZ.
We had moved all our Worldly Possessions out of the house to sell. At that time the Solar Panels were made out of Pontoon size water tanks. The stupid Realtor said that he’d make sure those water tanks were emptied before Winter hit. We’ll he didn’t and a month later along came the ALASKAN EXPRESS. Froze the Water Tanks and the weight caved in the roof, wound up Flooding the house to the tune of $10,000 out of Pocket.
We had switched our insurance over a few months before from State Farm to Liberty Mutual. Liberty Mutual refused to pay for the damages because, as far as they knew their was No Furniture left in the house, thus it was considered “ABANDON”. This is why we had to pay out of our Pockets for Repairs. It was a Friggin’ NIGHTMARE!
Like I said this all occurred back in 1988. A lot of advancements have been made in the Solar Panal Industry since then.
I think Liberty Mutual are a pack of Heartless Shiesters and Arizona is Satan’s Kingdom.
As for EVs I will NEVER Own or Lease One! NEVER! Living on Borrowed Time as it is. Don’t want to rush the time I have left.
I agree that solar was sketchy and the first generation electric cars were not very good. Personally, I would have waited longer (even forever) because I’m not one to change with the times very quickly. What a nightmare you went through!!!
My solar panels barely yield 20$ a month off my electric bil). I thought I had to have them, but I was mistaken. I was a victim of CA brain washing. We have plenty of sun in Fort Collins over 300 days a year, and usually 20 or more days of usable Sun to add to that!
I am with you Anne…no EV for me, no black cars. My Jeep is 16 years old, in great shape and zero monthly payments. I value being frugal during these very uncertain days
Hi Carol, I will have to change my ways, haha! So far the panels are helping lower the HIGH cost of energy – but once we add the car I don’t know how that will balance out. We will have to study the results over the summer and the remainder of the year.
Borrow your neighbors plug in 🙂
Oh I would never do that! (neighbors don’t have one)
Hi Anne, I’m a never say never person as well. I won’t even go into all of mine except for the,
“I’ll always own a pretty color car, never white or black, just too ordinary. Well if you see me driving my 2020 White Toyota wave to me!
Hi Penny! I’ll start waving!! Haha, lots of white cars out there!!
No solar panels or EVs here, but mostly because I live in the rural Midwest where trees and rain are abundant. An EV wouldn’t be bad, but I settled for a black Ford Escape that can take Flex Fuel, if I so desire.
My rough-and-tumble, manly man Ford F150-driving husband has caved to driving our daughter’s Mini Cooper for his hour-long commute to Indianapolis every day to save gas.
So your motto is “never say never” while ours is “ya do what ya gotta do”.
“ya do what ya gotta do” sounds good to me! There are a lot of places solar will not work well! We used to have very large trees in the front and back that were wind damaged and needed to be removed over the 30 years we’ve lived in this house. Solar would have never worked until the trees were removed. Now the hope is the panels will compensate for the energy needed to cool the house without the trees…..sheesh!
Hi Anne,
I looked into Solar a few years back. I even went to a meeting put on by Edison.
I man in the room asked what happens when the power goes out in the city.
The person said with Solar you will be the last to come on. She also said it is because they don’t want power going back online that would endanger a worker working on the line.
So we decided not to go with solar.
Hi George – Yes, I’ve heard that too! Our battery backup is supposed to be the solution to the problem going back online. Jim tried to explain it to me (lol) so maybe next time we see you Jim can give you the details. We will gladly share our future experiences with you.
Hi George – Yes, I’ve heard that too! Our battery backup is supposed to be the solution to the problem going back online. Jim tried to explain it to me (lol) so maybe next time we see you Jim can give you the details. We will gladly share our future experiences with you.
Hope to see you in the Northwest, Washington State to be exact. Have a good summer and take care. Howard
Thank you Howard, we hope to see you in WA.
We’re in Indiana and we’ve had solar panels since 2008, and our electric bill since 2008 has been the $10 connection charge every month! We have 32 panels and they supply ALL of our power! They are virtually ZERO maintenance. You’ll never regret installing them! Let me know if you have any more questions about solar!
Hey John – good to know, we are looking forward to some relief from the utility bills!
Dear Anne & Jim, We got solar panels in 2019. Our electric bill dropped drastically. In 2024 we bought a used Chevy Bolt and absolutely love it. Hopefully we are doing our part to help the environment.
Your music is wonderful. We went to a concert in Bayfield Wi on our 50th Ann and for our 75th birthday. Hope to see more in the future when you come to Wisconsin.
Hi Ken and Kay! Looking forward to our next concert in WI (Wautoma, March 21, 2026). So far, our electric bills are next to nothing – but summer is coming! Hope to see you soon!